PKS head gets away with impunity on bribery charges due to loophole in law

Kazimierz H., head of the Hrubieszow branch of Przedsiebiorstwo Komunikacji Samochodowej (PKS), the state-owned transportation company, has been found not guilty by a district court in Zamosc of accepting bribes, solely on grounds that he does not hold a public office. In 1996 the prosecutor's office in Zamosc charged Kazimierz H. with accepting kickbacks from five drivers employed at PKS in Hrubieszow in return for job contracts. Though the "price" of the contracts ranged from zl.250 to zl.1,000, Kazimierz H. on one occasion also accepted 70 kilograms of pork as "a gift" from one of the employees. After four years, the court has finally decided that Kazimierz H. is not guilty, as under Polish law only people holding public office who accept money for favors can be accused of bribery. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp.1, 4) J.K.